Social CRM: The Conversation

Paul Greenberg focuses on not only what CRM is but where its going in this blog on CRM strategy, technology, stories, companies and personalities.

Paul Greenberg

In addition to being the author of the best-selling CRM at the Speed of Light: Social CRM Strategies, Tools, and Techniques for Engaging Your Customers Paul Greenberg is President of The 56 Group, LLC, a customer strategy consulting firm, focused on cutting edge CRM strategic services and a founding partner of the CRM training company, BPT Partners, LLC, a training and consulting venture composed of a number of CRM luminaries that has quickly become the authority for the CRM industry.His book, CRM at the Speed of Light: Essential Customer Strategies for the 21st Century, now in its fourth edition, is in 8 languages and been called "the bible of the CRM industry". It is used by more than 70 universities as a primary text. It was named "the number 1 CRM book" by SearchCRM.com in 2002 and is one of two books recommended by CustomerThink. The Asian edition of CIO Magazine named it one of the 12 most important books an Asian CEO will ever read. Paul has also authored two other books including "E-Government for Public Officials" (Thompson Publishing, 2003). Paul is also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management CRM Centre of Excellence, and the Executive Vice President of the CRM Association.Paul is considered a thought leader in CRM, having been published in numerous industry and business publications over the years and having traveled the world speaking on cutting edge CRM and topics geared to the contemporary social customer. He has been called "the godfather of CRM", the "Walt Whitman of CRM" and even "the Bob Dylan of CRM" by analysts and organizations throughout the industry. He is known particularly for his work on the use of social media, such as blogs, podcasts and wikis and social networks/communities in CRM as tools and channels for customer collaboration with a company. He is seen often as the "voice of the customer" and is well known within the CRM industry for this work. His blog, PGreenblog has been named the #1 CRM blog every year from 2005-2010 by all industry award providers. He also has a podcast, Experience on the Edge, that has garnered a myriad of industry kudos and his collaboration with Brent Leary on the always funny, often cutting, CRM Playaz is the most popular broadcast in the CRM world.Paul was also named one of the most influential people in CRM by CRM Magazine in August 2008. In 2010, he was inducted into CRM Magazine's CRM Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Destination CRM Board of Experts and the SearchCRM Expert Advisory Panel as well as a member of the Board of Advisors for GreaterChinaCRM for many years. He also sits on the Board of Advisors of the CIE Institute and and multiple other companies.Currently, Paul lives in Manassas, Virginia with his wife and five cats. To reach Paul, please email him at paul-greenberg3@the56group.com. You can follow him at Twitter or join up with him on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Alan Berkson has a unique place in the world of thought leadership. He is the guy who has the science of the corporate narrative nailed. Just plain pinned. He is gracing our blog with a post that tells the story of telling stories on behalf of corporations. Listen up.

CRM Idol 2013 is now in the final stretch. You want to know who is going to win. Vote and help make that decision. You need information? This is one of the places to find out what to do as we all get a chance to judge emerging technology companies and impact their future.

Big data has dominated the hype and much of the application production cycle for the last 12-15 months. Now we come to Allen Bonde, noted thought leader, calling for small data!! Want to know what he means? Read on....

November 30 is the deadline for CRM Watchlist 2014 - so the time is drawing close. Want to know what to do and what to say? Read on to get some insight and also see what works and what doesn't. AND who won last year.

I have to admit, I am impressed by Microsoft - a company that has been my client and the subject of many an article both friendly and critical. But this time, at least as we heard presentations at the Microsoft Analyst Summit in late October, they seem to have gotten most of it right.

CRM Idol 2013 is heading into the home stretch now. The five finalists, after a long and often difficult process on an uncertain but exciting journey, have been chosen and their job, which they have to accept, is to get a video done, up and voted on by the public and the influencers. How exciting? More? See below.

CRM Watchlist 2014 is going to be somewhat different than the 2013 Watchlist because of significant changes in the CRM industry. The criteria are the same, what underlays them are different. If you're interested in the changes or the award, read on.

SEAT 2013 is the premier sports executive conference. It stands for Sports Entertainment Alliance in Technology and 450 sports execs gather to discuss and share best practices and issues impact the entire sports world and are worth looking at for CRM and social - customer facing strategies and tactics. Take a gander.

In the latest of a breathtaking series of acquisitions, Adobe announces their intent to acquire CRM Watchlist 2013 winner Neolane, a leader in the marketing technology space. Paul Greenberg explains what this means for the market, the companies - and their customers.